Tag Archives: Dare Mighty Things

November in Pittsburgh at CAEL 2026

Uncategorized November 7, 2026 1 Comment

This week I traveled to Pittsburgh to speak at the CAEL (Council for Adult and Experiential Learning) conference.

Pittsburgh has 446 bridges, three rivers, and a remarkable ability to surprise you. Once the steel capital of America, it has traded smokestacks for robotics, medicine, and innovation. Though I suspect the city still has a little steel in its soul.

Here’s a pic with some of the California delegation –

Martha GArcia, Annebelle Niery, Mayra Dias, Patricia Wallace from CAEL, Sonya Christian, GAry Adams

Another pic with more of the California delegation … this time with the Credit for Prior Learning folks.

With Su Jin Jez from California Competes –

Walk by the Allegheny River in Pittsburg. Check out the bridge

Good morning California.
It is November 7, 2026.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Merritt celebrates Black Panther Party anniversary in major celebration

The Black Student Union (BSU) hosted a 60th anniversary celebration of the Black Panther Party on Friday in the Merritt College parking lot. The BSU invited other college community groups, outside vendors and guest speakers to the event. Saturu Ned, the main speaker at the event, is a co-founder of the Black Panther Alumni Legacy Network, an organization that focuses on continuing the legacy of the party’s community initiatives like health services and food drives.

» Read more!

$3 Million Federal Grant Brings Applied AI Training to Moorpark College Students

Moorpark College has been awarded a five-year, $3 million federal Title III Strengthening Institutions Program grant to launch the Applied AI Initiative for Workforce Readiness, Faculty Capacity, and Economic Mobility. The initiative will help students and faculty prepare for a workforce where artificial intelligence is quickly becoming part of everyday work. The grant will fund a new interdisciplinary Applied Artificial Intelligence certificate that students can pair with their main field of study, from business and communication to cybersecurity and film and television. Rather than training AI specialists, the program will help students become professionals who can use AI effectively, responsibly and critically in their chosen careers.

» Read more!

New Apprenticeship from Gavilan College Helps Paraeducators
Become Special Education Teachers

State and local education leaders gathered at Britton Middle School on August 26 to launch the Special Education Paraeducator-to-Teacher Apprenticeship Program, a paid pathway that allows participants to work in Morgan Hill Unified School District classrooms while progressing toward a California Education Specialist Credential. Participants can enter at different points along a path from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree and teaching credential. The pathway has two entry points. Paraeducators working toward an associate degree can earn it at Gavilan College through tuition-free, flexible, in-person classes offered during evenings and weekends. College graduates can enter a post-baccalaureate residency, completing online credential coursework through Teachers College of San Joaquin while working alongside a mentor teacher in Morgan Hill Unified School District.

» Read more!

In Case You Missed It

California Community Colleges Earn Wellness Coaches Designation

Shasta College, Santa Rosa Junior College, and Southwestern College have made history as the first colleges in California to earn full designation status as a Wellness Coach Designated Education Program from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). This designation is part of a $6.1 million statewide investment to strengthen the state’s behavioral health workforce through the California Community Colleges system.

The Wellness Coach Designated Education Program grant is administered through a partnership between HCAI and the Foundation for California Community Colleges (FoundationCCC). As a key component of California’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health , the program operates under the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, which aims to grow a larger, more representative workforce supporting the emotional, mental, and behavioral health of California’s youth and young adults ages 0-25.

» Read more!

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Beyond the Campus Food Pantry

Food insecurity remains a persistent barrier to college completion. While hunger overlaps with other basic needs challenges, including housing insecurity, mental health concerns and transportation barriers, many students still struggle to obtain the food assistance they need.

Although campus food programs distribute millions of meals and serve hundreds of thousands of students each year, many continue to operate with limited staffing, unstable funding streams and growing demand.

A new report highlights the challenges facing students and campus food assistance programs, calling for greater awareness, improved access and more sustainable institutional support. Released by the Hope Center for Student Basic Needs, Trellis Strategies and Swipe Out Hunger, the research draws on responses from 112,240 students and 299 campus leaders across three surveys.

» Read more!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Norco College:

Highlights from the Esports Smashdown to Ghosttown!

Check out the epic plays, thrilling matches, and unforgettable moments that had everyone on the edge of their seats!

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From College of San Mateo:

Thank you to CSM’s Welcome Center staff, student services teams, and local high school partners for planning ahead for fall 2027. From dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment to the transition after graduation, this work helps students take their next steps.

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From Evergreen Valley College:

The LGBTQ+ Studio Q Pride Center hosted a resource fair today. Thank you for all the community groups that attended!

2026 Fall LGBTQ+ Pride Resource Fair
2026 Fall LGBTQ+ Pride Resource Fair

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From Irvine Valley College:

On November 4, IVC had the honor of hosting Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris’s eighth annual Veterans of the Year Celebration!

Among this year’s three honorees was IVC’s own Rose Adon, a U.S. Navy veteran who served as a petty officer second class. Adon received her award from 2024 honoree and Marine Corps veteran Dr. Martha McDonald, IVC’s vice president for student services.

Congratulations to Rose and fellow honorees Kenneth Jackson and Garrison De Vine! Thank you for your service and dedication to our country.

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And check out this from from Palo Verde College’s Día de los Muertos celebration:

And From the Home of the Renegades

Dia De Los Muertos – Remembering, Reflecting and Healing

This week the AB540 Student Support Program at Bakersfield College put together a series of Dia De Los Muertos themed altars where students could preview exhibits, participate in an optional guided reflection time, and make their own contribution to the displays. The purpose was to honor those who came before us, and the memories and lessons we continue to carry.

Pedro Coata Meza, Program Technician for the AB540 Student Support Program, helped coordinate the event. His goal was to create a space for students and staff to honor those who are no longer with us. “Today we are honoring Dia De Los Muertos. This event allows people to remember individuals and close family members who have passed away,” he said, “so we are highlighting their life, how important their lives were, and always trying to keep them in our mind.”

Read more!

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Remember – our greatest challenges enable us to do our greatest work.

That’s all for today.
See you next Saturday!

With much hope and joy, 

Your Chancellor,
-sonya

#OurTimeisNow
#NuestroTiempoEsAhora

McFarland Early College Launch Oct 29, 2026

Uncategorized November 1, 2026 Leave a comment

Happy Halloween all!

The sound of work…

For the past two weeks, we have had some flooring and painting work going on at home. Which meant that for two weeks, my house was no longer quite my home.

There were workers coming and going, tools everywhere, furniture moved out of place, music playing loudly, and conversations happening at a volume that suggested everyone needed to be heard over everyone else. At times, I wondered whether we were renovating the house or hosting a music festival…. I found myself actually enjoying the whole production.

The camaraderie among the workers…They talked constantly. They laughed. They teased one another. The music kept playing. And through it all, the work got done. There was a rhythm to it, a kind of choreography that comes from people who know their craft and know how to work together.

This Saturday marked the end of the two weeks, the floors looked beautiful, the walls were freshly painted, and the house was finally back in order.

And then the workers left.

The tools disappeared. The music stopped. The conversations faded. The house became quiet again.

I enjoyed the quiet.

But I have to admit, I missed the noise and chaos a little.

It was the sound of people enjoying their work. And what a lovely sound that is.

California has lost an extraordinary leader, and the California Community Colleges has lost a distinguished alumni.

Dolores Huerta attended San Joaquin Delta College, where she prepared to become a teacher. What she witnessed in the lives of farmworker children inspired a lifetime of advocacy for dignity, justice, and opportunity.

On a personal note, as an immigrant who has come to call California’s Central Valley home, I have seen firsthand the lasting impact of her work on families and communities across the region. She understood that lasting change begins when people find their voice and come together to shape their future.

Her life reminds us of the transformative role of education and the difference one person can make.

On behalf of our California community colleges, I extend my heartfelt condolences to her family and all who mourn her passing.

Also, for stories on Dolores Huerta read Michele Siqueiros’ piece in the LA Local –

Remembering Dolores Huerta: A force of power and love

McFarland Early College: From a Bold Idea to a Statewide Movement

On Thursday, October 29, we celebrated a wonderful milestone at McFarland High School in Kern County – the launch of California’s Early College Demonstration Initiative and the McFarland Early College Hub.

This moment was especially meaningful to me. In 2019, McFarland High School and Bakersfield College came together around a bold idea: What if every high school student could begin college in ninth grade and graduate with a meaningful head start toward a certificate or degree?

The state has invested in this idea to see if we can scale the McFarland wall-to-wall dual enrollment into a statewide model.

The initiative will support the expansion of early college opportunities across California, with the goal of ensuring that every high school student can earn at least 12 college units before graduation. Over the next three years, we aim to reach 5,000 to 7,000 students and save families more than $42 million in college costs.

And the students are already showing us what is possible. McFarland graduates have earned associate degrees before receiving their high school diplomas. Students are pursuing pathways in public health, business, welding, and media. They are discovering their interests, building confidence, and beginning to see college as something they are already part of.

It was wonderful to celebrate alongside so many people who believe in the power of education to transform communities.

My thanks to McFarland Unified School District Superintendent Aaron Resendez, McFarland High School Principal Dario Diaz, and McFarland trustees Liz Gutierrez and Jim Beltran for their leadership and for joining us. Dario went big with the set up at McFarland High School. It was truly incredible. Aaron vision and steady leadership right from the beginning was what made this idea a reality. Romeo Agbalog was on the Kern District Board and was all in right from the state. We missed former Senator Jean Fuller who has been a true champion. Steve Watkin was leading out outreach program.

A special thank you to the Kern Community College District trustees who attended — Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg, Kay Meek, Yovani Jimenez, and Danny Diaz — and to KCCD Chancellor Sean Hancock for their continued commitment to making college accessible to students while they are still in high school.

We had Pam Haynes from the Board of Governors join us and a great group from the Chancellor’s Office.

We were also delighted to have John Mendiburu, Kern County Superintendent of Schools, Senator Melissa Hurtado, and former Assemblymember Rudy Salas with us. Their presence reflected the broad community support that has helped make this work possible.

And there was a wonderful connection to McFarland’s history. Jim White, the legendary cross-country coach whose story was brought to the big screen by Kevin Costner in the film McFarland, USA, joined us for the celebration. If you have not seen it, the movie is streaming on Disney and Amazon Prime. Maybe one of these rainy weekends, you should settle down and watch the movie.

McFarland has long been a community that reminds us what happens when someone believes in the potential of young people. It was special to have him there as we celebrated another chapter in that story.

And perhaps that is what makes McFarland such a fitting place for this movement to grow. A community known nationally for a coach who saw extraordinary potential in his students is now helping California rethink when and how students begin their college journeys.

What began in McFarland is now helping shape what is possible for students across California. This is Vision 2030 in action.

We brought back Kylie Campbell to lead the implementation of the Statewide Early College Demonstration Project.

In the news:

Good morning California.
It is October 31, 2026
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

San Bernardino Valley College’s First Bachelor’s Degree Off to Successful Start

San Bernardino Valley College’s first bachelor’s degree cohort is off to a running start in the fall 2026 semester.

The new bachelor’s degree in water resources management drew more than 100 applicants for fall 2026, leading the program to expand from 20 spots to 35.

The program aims to supply new workers in the local water industry, where more than a third of employees are expected to retire within the next decade, according to a 2024 SBVC labor analysis. The Inland Empire ranks among the top regions nationally for water-related careers, with strong salaries and persistent demand for qualified candidates.

» Read more!

Lemoore College and Fresno State expand transfer opportunities
with opening of Fresno State Success Center

Lemoore College and Fresno State are strengthening their partnership to expand educational opportunities for Central Valley students with the opening of the Fresno State Success Center on the Lemoore College campus. The new center provides students with direct access to Fresno State resources, guidance and support as they prepare to transfer and continue their education. By bringing university services directly to Lemoore College through the Bulldog Bound transfer program, the partnership is designed to simplify the transfer process, strengthen academic pathways and help more students pursue bachelor’s degrees.

» Read more!

Chaffey College Black and Brown Minds & Mattering Conference Celebrates Superheroes

Star Rivera-Lacey, deputy chancellor and provost for the Riverside Community College District, delivered her message of resilience and strength to about 450 higher education leaders, students and community members at Chaffey College’s Black and Brown Minds & Mattering Conference on Oct. 23. The conference, focusing on the theme of superheroes, included a variety of workshops on supporting and lifting up communities of color, as well as keynote presentations by Rivera-Lacey and Nikkolas Smith, artivist and bestselling author.

» Read more!

In Case You Missed It

Report: 6.4 Million Adults Are California’s Untapped Workforce

Nearly half of the 6.4 million California adults of prime working age who hold a high school diploma but no college degree have already taken college courses, and three in four are employed, according to a new analysis that urges the state to remake its higher education system around them.

The report, “Untapped Opportunity: Meet California’s 6.4 Million Potential Graduates,” was released this month by California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy, a nonpartisan research and policy organization based in Oakland. It profiles residents ages 25 to 54 who finished high school or earned an equivalent credential but never completed an associate degree or higher, a group the organization calls “potential graduates.” The study refreshes a statewide portrait California Competes first published in 2021.

» Read more!

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Inside California’s decadelong higher education expansion in prisons

In 2014, then-Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation to fund community college courses inside jails and prisons, part of a slate of criminal justice and prison reforms to reduce the rate of people returning to prison after serving their sentences. More than a decade later, California’s higher education offerings in prisons now include 13 bachelor’s degree programs with nearly 500 graduates to date, with plans for further expansion.

» Read more!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Los Angeles City College:

Los Angeles City College (LACC) welcomed more than 3,500 Los Angeles Unified School District students and family members to campus on Tuesday, September 29, for the LAUSD Region West College & Career Fair, one of the region’s largest events focused on helping students explore their options after high school.

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From Monterey Peninsula College:

A name that honors a legacy.

Today, we celebrated the official ribbon-cutting and dedication of The Walker Center (Building 10), named in honor of the late Laurence E. “Larry” Walker, Sr. An MPC alumnus and first-generation college student, Larry dedicated nearly 40 years of his life to expanding educational opportunities, supporting student success, and making sure every student had the resources they needed to thrive.

Now home to MPC’s Welcome Center, student programs, and support services, The Walker Center will continue the work Larry was so passionate about: helping students feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed. We were honored to celebrate this special milestone alongside the Walker family and our campus community.

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From Citrus College:

We had a gourd time in the Campus Mall today! Students got into the fall spirit with pumpkin painting, games, friendly competitions, seasonal treats, music and more at Pumpkin Palooza! Thank you to the Pride Center, Black Scholars and Rising Scholars programs for hosting this festive event and bringing our campus community together.

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And San Joaquin Delta College shared that alum Robert Gasser would be playing for the Milwaukee Brewers in this year’s World Series. His efforts helped his team secure their franchise’s first World Series championship.

And From the Home of the Renegades

BC Receives $100,000 Grant to Support Students Pursuing Healthcare Careers

Last week, Bank of America hosted their annual Community Roundtable and Celebration in the Renegade Event Center. The event brings together local community members and businesses to discuss public relations, charitable contributions and strategizing, and more. During the event, the BC Foundation received the 2026 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Grant for $100,000 to support the Aspiring Medical Professionals Pathway.

Karen Zuber, President of Bakersfield Local Market at Bank of America, was excited to announce the recipient of the grant. “We are so honored to present this year’s Neighborhood Builder Award to the Bakersfield College Foundation,” she said to the attendees, “we thank you for believing in students, we thank for believing in the community, and for helping create opportunities that can change the course of a person’s life.”

» Read more!

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Remember – our greatest challenges enable us to do our greatest work.

That’s all for today.
See you next Saturday!

With much hope and joy, 

Your Chancellor,
-sonya

OurTimeisNow
#NuestroTiempoEsAhora

The strength of presence of each other

Uncategorized October 17, 2026 Leave a comment

It was on this day in 1979 that Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitutes a threat to peace.”

She declined the traditional banquet and requested the budget for the celebration be used to help the poor in India.

At the time of her death, her Missionaries of Charity had over 4,000 sisters and hundreds of thousands of volunteers at hundreds of centers worldwide, including homes of orphaned children, homes for people with HIV/AIDS, and hospices for the terminally ill.

I love this quote from her Nobel Lecture:

“I think that we in our family don’t need bombs and guns, to destroy to bring peace – just get together, love one another, bring that peace, that joy, that strength of presence of each other in the home. And we will be able to overcome all the evil that is in the world.”

As for me …..

I was in Southern California all week. Started at UCLA and ended in Riverside for Chancellor Wolde-ab Isaac’s retirement.

What a joy to be here celebrating a truly remarkable leader, Chancellor Wolde-ab Isaac.

Good morning California.
It is October 17, 2026.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

Long Beach City College Breaks Ground on New Student Housing Complex

Long Beach City College (LBCC) held a groundbreaking ceremony today for its new Liberal Arts Campus Student Housing Complex, marking a transformative step in providing housing for students for the first time in the college’s history. The approximately 108,000-square-foot student housing complex will provide 431 beds in a mix of studio, single, and double-bed units. The facility will also feature study, lounge, and meeting spaces; shared kitchens and laundry rooms; and indoor and outdoor gathering areas designed to create a welcoming residential community for LBCC students.

» Read more!

Riverside City College Rainbow Engagement Center Connects Students
With Legal Name and Gender Marker Resources

Riverside City College’s Rainbow Engagement Center welcomed more than 20 participants to a recent Legal Name and Gender Marker Workshop designed to help students better understand the legal process and connect with community-based resources for additional support.Lorenzo “L” Orozco Jr., staff attorney and pro bono coordinator for the LGBTQ+ Services Program at Inland Counties Legal Services, led the workshop, providing participants with a step-by-step overview of the legal name and gender marker change process and information about how individuals can access assistance through ICLS.

» Read more!

Meet Miss B: Reporting for Duty (and Belly Rubs) at West Valley College

Get ready to meet the most fetching new member of the West Valley-Mission Community College District: Miss B, our therapy dog! Beatrice, better known as Miss B, is a trained crisis and therapy K9 who works alongside her handler, district police Captain Jorge Gutierrez, serving the West Valley College and Mission College communities. Miss B joined the district’s Public Safety team this spring as one of a small number of therapy dogs serving California Community College districts.

» Read more!

In Case You Missed It

Bringing college credit deeper into high school CTE

A new report suggests expanding dual-enrollment career and technical education programs in secondary schools.

More than 1 million high school graduates each year complete substantial CTE coursework without taking a single dual-enrollment course. That’s a missed opportunity for community colleges to connect career preparation more directly to college.

A new report from the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University, argues that colleges and K-12 systems can close that gap by embedding college courses into CTE pathways, career academies and other programs that already serve high school students.

» Read more!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Las Positas College:

THE STUDENTS ARE YOUR LPC GAMES 2026 CHAMPIONS!

Four teams. Five challenges. One VERY chaotic competition with a lot of laughs and some serious school spirit.

And the winning didn’t stop at the overall belt and trophy! Students walked away with some awesome door prizes, including one lucky student who won an Apple MacBook Neo!

Thank you to everyone who competed, cheered, and made LPC Games 2026 such a fun and memorable event!

And an additional thank you to our event sponsors for helping make the 2026 Games happen!: Patelco Credit Union, LAVTA and WheelsBus, AVI and Livermore Sanitation, Uncle Credit Union, LPC Foundation and Las Positas Student Government.

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From Palomar College:

On September 11, we celebrated the achievements of 15 students who earned their Military Leadership Certificate of Achievement and or Associate of Science in Military Leadership.

Palomar College has been helping thousands of active-duty military and their family members since 1972 achieve their educational goals at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

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From Mt. San Jacinto College:

Last Friday, we were honored to host the ASCCC Fall Area D Meeting at MSJC!

Thank you to Jeremy Brown for his support and to the faculty leaders from across five counties who joined us to discuss student learning and success.

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And check out this video from Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on McFarland Early College.

And From the Home of the Renegades

BC Athletes Ready to Excel in Upcoming Bakersfield College Rodeo

The BC Rodeo Team will have more than 20 athletes competing in the 2026 Annual Bakersfield College Rodeo. The event takes place Saturday, November 14, and Sunday, November 15th at the Kern County Fairgrounds. The family-friendly event provides the perfect environment to display the talents of the individual athletes.

BC Rodeo Team captain Trent Jones is a three-year veteran of the program and will be competing in the upcoming rodeo. He has competed in the collegiate national finals in team roping, and this season presents another opportunity to return and perhaps bring home a national title. “We are hoping to send him back one last time to get that title,” said Julie Towse, associate professor of agriculture science and coordinator of the BC Rodeo.

» Read more!

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Remember – our greatest challenges enable us to do our greatest work.

That’s all for today.
See you next Saturday!

With much hope and joy, 

Your Chancellor,
-sonya

#OurTimeisNow
#NuestroTiempoEsAhora

What’s not to love about San Diego 2026

Uncategorized October 3, 2026 Leave a comment

This week, Russian strikes killed 8 in Ukraine, and damaged a maternity clinic.

» Read more

Russia also hit a university in Kyiv – this is where my daughter teaches when she goes to Kyiv.

Let us Pray.

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This week, I traveled to the southern part of the state for a variety of meetings and conferences.

What’s not to love about San Diego –

Beautiful moon…I snapped this photo from the Ferry from Coronado to the Convention Center.

And I took this 11 second video of the moon for you:

I snapped this picture on the elevator door at a hotel I stay at in San Diego. It’s an ad letting families know that kids under 10 eat free ….but it’s the expression on this kid’s face that gets me every time.

Every time I stay here, I see that face and laugh out loud…..Pure joy. Pure mischief. And maybe just a little excitement about eating for free.

Don’t you agree?

And another pic …

We had a Board of Governors visit San Diego Mesa College. The college shared these pics:

And here’s a video I took of dancers from San Diego Mesa College:

The next day after the Mesa visit, I spoke at the Nandi conference. Ebony Jeffries snapped this selfie.

Ebony Jeffries, Gina Brown, Sonya Christian

We then launched our internship demonstration project at San Diego CCD – back at Mesa College.

Here is a photo of Chancellor Greg Smith.

Good morning California.
It is October 3, 2026.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!

San Diego Miramar College Receives 2026 Excellence
in Mental Health and Well-Being Award

Miramar College’s Mental Health and Wellness Services Department has received the 2026 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award from Insight Into Academia magazine. The Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award is a measure of an institution’s individual programs and initiatives that significantly advance core values of student and employee mental health and well-being through programs, initiatives, and other campus priorities deserving of this national recognition. 

» Read more!

Shasta College Awarded $288,500 Federal TRIO Talent Search Grant

Shasta College has been awarded a $288,500 annual grant from the U.S. Department of Education to continue operating its Federal TRIO Talent Search program, ensuring that 577 students in Shasta County will continue receiving intensive support to prepare for, apply to, and succeed in postsecondary education. The Department awarded the grant through its fiscal year 2026 Talent Search competition. Shasta College will receive approximately $1,442,500 over the five-year grant cycle, subject to continued federal appropriations.

» Read more!

Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara Receives Over $500,000 from State Coastal Conservancy to Launch the Ocean Collective with Santa Barbara City College

The Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara (CFSB) has been awarded $507,500 from the California State Coastal Conservancy to launch the Ocean Collective, a partnership dedicated to building career pathways and shared infrastructure for the region’s Blue Economy. SCC funding comes from the voter approved Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 (a.k.a. “2024 Climate Bond” or “Proposition 4”). The Coastal Conservancy funding builds on a 2024 planning grant to SBCC from Uplift Central Coast, awarded through the California Jobs First Initiative, which kicked off the Ocean Collective’s curriculum and facilities planning process. 

» Read more!

FutureU Podcast – Live from Google: AI Is About People, Not Just Tech

Universities can build all the AI infrastructure they want, but if faculty aren’t on board, none of it lands in the classroom. Recent surveys make clear what many academic leaders already sense but rarely say out loud: there’s a real and widening divide between faculty skepticism and administrative impatience on AI. The question isn’t who’s right. It’s how you close the gap. 

In this episode, I joined Pradeep Khosla (Chancellor, University of California, San Diego) and James Frazee (VP and CIO, San Diego State University) to speak with podcast hosts Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn.

» Listen here!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Kern Community College District:

Kern CCD Trustees Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg, Kay Meek & Yovani Jimenez joined Chancellor Sean Hancock and others at a luncheon for Latino community leaders at the District Office.

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From Antelope Valley College:

Thanks to everyone who came out for EOPS All-Star Day!

Students stopped by for In-N-Out, games and giveaways, and learned more about the support available through EOPS | NextUp.

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From Victor Valley College:

Hispanic Heritage Month at VVC continues with Wear Your Rebozo, Zarape & Guayabera Day!

Students, staff, and faculty proudly celebrated Día del Rebozo by wearing traditional cultural garments and accessories that honor the rich history, artistry, and traditions of Hispanic and Latino communities. From colorful rebozos and zarapes to elegant guayaberas, our campus was filled with culture, pride, and heritage.

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From College of San Mateo:

CSM students visited AbbVie in South San Francisco to tour the facilities, learn about research and development, and hear directly from scientists about their work.

And From the Home of the Renegades

BC Seminar Connects Students Through Conversations About Mental Health

Bakersfield College students explored ways to cope with emotional challenges, and found support during a suicide prevention seminar Tuesday, Sept. 29.

The Student Health and Wellness Center hosted “Embracing Life When Life Feels Dark: A Seminar on Suicide Prevention” in recognition of Suicide Prevention Month.

Dave Seymour, a mental health clinician at the Center, led discussions about the pressures college students face and how those experiences can affect their mental health.

» Read more!

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Remember – our greatest challenges enable us to do our greatest work.

That’s all for today.
See you next Saturday!

With much hope and joy, 

Your Chancellor,
-sonya

#OurTimeisNow
#NuestroTiempoEsAhora

Celebrating daughters

Uncategorized September 26, 2026 Leave a comment

Yesterday, September 25, was National Daughters’ Day.

Here’s to my beautiful, smart daughter, who does extraordinary work caring for children and their loved ones during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

So proud of the person she is, the work she does, and the heart she brings to it every day.

I got my Covid vaccine yesterday. Ninth vaccine so far since 2020. I encourage everyone to keep up on their boosters.

Here’s a throwback to my first Covid shot back in 2020:

Sunrise photo – I haven’t done one of these for awhile:

Another one:


This week was the Collective Equity Institute

Hildy got this video of the recognition of – “Warrior Lady for the California Community Colleges”

Good morning California.
It is September 26, 2026.
A good day to be a Community College Champion

From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!


$900,000 Philanthropic Investment will Kickstart New Air Traffic Control Program for Orange Coast College Students

An Orange Coast College Foundation donor has made a strategic philanthropic investment of $900,000 in Orange County’s workforce to kickstart a new Air Traffic Control (ATC) program. The program will create a direct, local educational pathway into one of the nation’s most critical and in-demand aviation professions. The generous gift will fund specialized facilities, state-of-the-art air traffic control simulation equipment, classroom renovations, curriculum development, and instructional technology needed to launch the program. Introductory ATC courses will begin this fall, with the full curriculum available in Fall 2027.

» Read more!

Berkeley City College and LBNL Partner to Expand Quantum Workforce Readiness

Berkeley City College and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) have launched the Boosting Employment Readiness in Quantum (BERQ) program, a three-week summer initiative that introduces community college students to the rapidly advancing fields of quantum information science and technology while preparing them for careers in the emerging workforce.

» Read more!

Measuring – and Proving – the Effectiveness
Of Non-Degree Programs at Calbright College

Certificates and other non-degree credentials are the fastest growing sector in higher education, for very good reasons. They’re faster, cheaper, and often more career focused than traditional college degrees. This makes these types of certificate programs particularly ideal for working-age adults looking to upskill, reskill, and pivot careers.

» Read more!

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

From Citrus College:

Ruby already spoke two languages when she arrived in the United States. Now she speaks three.

A mother and Syrian war survivor, Ruby became acclimated to her new country by taking free, noncredit English language classes at Citrus College.

So can you.

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From San Diego College of Continuing Education:

SDCCE celebrated Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month at Harbor View Campus with an afternoon recognizing the rich cultures, traditions, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities!

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From Ohlone College:

Happy #DeafAwarenessMonth and #InternationalDayofSignLanguages! Today, our Ohlone College Deaf Center hosted our Deaf Awareness Month and Welcome Back event with our ASL club to celebrate the achievements of our Deaf community.

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From Norco College:

The Trailblazers Scholars Program kicked off the students’ Trailblazers experience!

First up, we had a warm welcome from Anita Bailey, one of our dedicated counselors.

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And check out this video from Santa Rosa Junior College:

And From the Home of the Renegades

Bakersfield College celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Kern CCD Board of Trustee member Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg shared this from Loteria night at BC:

Lotería night at BC was a blast! Huge congrats to our big winner from last week’s BC Padrinos Lotería Fundraiser. Thank you for supporting the cause!

» Read more about Hispanic Heritage Month at BC!

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Remember – our greatest challenges enable us to do our greatest work.

That’s all for today.
See you next Saturday!

With much hope and joy, 

Your Chancellor,
-sonya

#OurTimeisNow
#NuestroTiempoEsAhora